The Effects of Gun Ownership Rates and Gun Control Laws on Suicide Rates

The purpose of the present study is to determine the effects of gun control laws and gun ownership rates on state-level suicide rates. Using the most recent data on suicide rates, gun control measures, and gun ownership rates, the results of the present study suggest that states that require handgun permits have lower gun-related suicide rates, and states that have higher gun ownership rates have higher gun-related suicide rates. Regarding non-gun suicides, results suggest that stricter gun control laws may result in higher non-firearm suicides, and higher rates of gun ownership result in lower non-gun suicide rates. These results suggest that stricter gun control laws may actually induce potential suicide victims to alter the method by which they commit suicide. Hence, the overall effects of firearm availability on suicides may be muted due to the fact that while reduced firearm availability reduces firearm suicides, it also increases non-firearm suicides. Introduction In 2006, 33,300 suicides were committed; over 17,000 of those were by firearm. For men, the percentage of suicides committed with a firearm was 56 percent; for women, it was 31 percent. Although many factors affect an individual’s decision about whether or not to commit suicide, the availability of firearms is especially pertinent since this is one factor over which a state has some degree of control. Even though gun control laws vary from state to state, most jurisdictions place some restrictions on the use and ownership of firearms. An important question then is if there is a direct correlation between availability of firearms and suicide rates. If a gun is easier to obtain, will an individual be more likely to commit suicide by firearm? Or if guns are harder to obtain, will an individual be more likely to commit suicide by another method? Gun control advocates insist that the easy availability of firearms increases the overall suicide rate. They contend that gun control measures should be implemented in order to reduce the suicide rate, regardless of any potential constitutional issues that gun control measures may entail. Opponents of gun control measures, however, point out that a person may commit suicide using many different methods. Restricting access to firearms would only force potential victims to seek alternative methods. In addition, gun control opponents argue that gun control measures trample on the constitutional liberties of law-abiding Americans. ______________________ *Professor of Economics, Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT 06518, 203-582-8576, Fax: 203-582-8664, [email protected]